Thus shall the Holy God,
the Lord Almighty, Glory-giver of hosts and Helper 680
of souls, fulfill for me my desire and my inmost
longing.'
But with stubborn heart Judas answered her:--'I
know not the place, nor aught of the field, nor
know I the event.'
Then Elene spake with wrath in her heart:--'I 685
swear by the Son of the Creator, by the crucified
God, that thou shalt be starved to death before the
people of thine own race, save thou forsake this
falsehood and fully declare unto me the truth.' 690
Then she bade men take him alive, and throw
him, guilty as he was, into a dried-up well--nor did
her subjects hesitate. And there, joyless and famished,
weighed down with chains, was he to abide
in his grief for the space of seven nights. And
upon the seventh day, weakened by sorrow, weary, 695
and without food--his strength was broken--he
began to call aloud:--'I beseech you by the God
of the heavens that ye release me from this misery, 700
for I am brought low by the pangs of starvation.
Joyfully will I show forth the holy tree--no longer
can I hide it now by reason of my hunger. This
durance is too fearful, this need too great, and this
torture too bitter day by day.
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